Turda Salt Mine — Trip Into The Bowels Of Earth

The kingdom of the dwarves in the heart of Transylvania

Join me for an unforgettable journey into the mysterious depths beneath, to a place that seems rather part of Tolkien’s Middle Earth. We won’t find dwarves in the halls and corridors of this underground palace, but there are other treasures buried here. People have breached the darkness centuries ago to reach the hugr salt deposits, once worth its weight in gold.

The Turda Salt Mine is one of the most spectacular underground destinations of the world, a place where science, history and adventure are intertwined to create a unique experience. The story of this place located in the heart of Transylvania goes back millions of years, when this plateau was the bottom of a sea. After it dried up, the salt layers remained, some being closer to the surface than others.

This was the case of the area around the town of Turda. There are archaeological discoveries attesting the mining of salt more than two millennia ago, especially during the Roman rule of the region. Through the centuries, the mines reached impressive depths and volumes, up to 1932, when the salt mining operations were closed down. Starting with 1992, the main mines and galleries were open to visitors, becoming one of the most popular destinations in Romania.

We begin our descent into the deep through the long and narrow Franz Josef Gallery that was used to bring salt to the surface. From here, we can explore the subterranean labyrinth, beginning with its main highlight. The astonishing Rudolf Mine welcomes us in all its magnificence, with a depth of over 40 meters. Together with the adjoining deeper Theresa Mine, it was the last place where salt was extracted here.

Today, this spectacular space can be compared to a huge underground cathedral, if it weren’t for the leisure facilities created for visitors. We can ride a real-size Ferris Wheel inside the mine, play sports or row boats on the lake formed in Theresa Mine, among other activities. For the more daunting, there is also a wooden walkway suspended high above the floor, with spectacular views of the massive hall.

Back up into the Franz Josef Gallery, we can discover other fascinating sights, like the Echoes Chamber in the old Josef Mine or the Crivac Room where there’s an old wooden mechanism used to pull up the mined salt. Inside the Registry Chamber, we can admire the wooden Staircase of the Rich, covered in thick salt deposits. We can also admire the Altar, the Extraction Shaft or the Gisela Stationary Mine.

While most visitors just come to be awed by the salt mine, the unique ecosystem formed underground also has plenty of health benefits, some people spending entire days in its depths. A prolonged visit inside the mine can help those with respiratory problems, raising immunity and helping detox the body. We return to the surface feeling completely refreshed, but also amazed by the marvels hidden deep beneath our feet!